WPI Sees Early Lead Slip Away in Loss at Merchant Marine

Kings Point, NY --- The United States Merchant Marine Academy
rallied from an early 9-0 deficit to defeat visiting WPI 26-9 in a
Liberty League football contest played on Saturday
evening. Ernie
Mello (Wilmington, MA) paced the Engineer running
attack with 70 yards on 13 carries whileBrendan
Gove (Rutland, MA) backboned the defensive effort
with 10 tackles, including nine solo stops.

WPI jumped on the scoreboard first with a 30-yard field goal
from junior kicker Cody
Beckel (Jupiter, FL) with 5:56 remaining in the
first quarter. Five minutes later, the three-point score was
followed by one of the six-point variety as junior running
back Mitch
McClune (Pembroke, MA) notched a one-yard rushing
touchdown to give the Engineers a 9-0 lead. Beckel's point-after
attempt was blocked.

Four minutes into the second quarter, USMMA senior
quarterback Derrick Ventre (Cincinnati,
OH) gave the home crowd something to cheer about when he hooked up
with junior wideout Michael
Mitchell (Mt. Pleasant, SC) for a 25-yard TD catch.
The Mariners trailed 9-6 with 11:03 left in the second
quarter.

The rest of the second quarter winded down with no scoring until
Kings Point rookie wide receiverChaise
Dunn (Dade City, FL) caught a 15-yard
pass from Ventre in the endzone to give USMMA its first edge of the
day. With 54 seconds left before halftime, Kings Point led
12-9.

With a scoreless third quarter, the Mariners took the reins of
the fourth quarter and owned it. Mitchell was the culprit again as
he caught a 17-yard pass for a touchdown from Ventre with 14:55
remaining in regulation. The Mariners led 19-9 after a successful
point-after from Grennen.

With 2:51 left in the game, Kings Point sophomore running
back John-Leon Gosselin (Nashua, NH)
added the final touchdown for USMMA when he found the endzone on a
12-yard rush. Grennen's point-after kick made it 26-9, which would
be the final.

In a scheduling oddity, both teams take on Rochester in their
next contest. After an off week, WPI will host the Yellow
Jackets at noon on Saturday, October 23rd while the Mariners will
make the trip to upstate New York next weekend.